Drill rod



A. SCHMALZ F eb. 16, 1932.

DRILL ROD Y Filed DeC. 12, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l A. scHMALZ Feb. 16,1932.

DRILL ROD Filed Dec. l2, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l n l l 1 J Feb. 16,1932, A. scHMALz` 1,845,051

' DRILL ROD Filed Dec, 12 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 16, 1932ALBANO. SCHMALZ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS DRILL ,ROD

Application led December 12, 1927. Serial No. 239,416.

My .invention relates in general .to well drilling tools.

lt-'relates more particularly `to a drill and 1 a vdevic-e adapted to beused in connection therewith by means of which the drill may bewithdrawn in a single piece from the shaft should 'any part thereofbecome broken.

In 'the drilling of deep wells such as oil j wells running as deep as vethousand feet U in eXtreme cases, lthe equipment yemployed comprises adrill rod in the form of jointed sectionsof hollow casing with asuitable style of bit, Athe bit being so `formed that the product 'ofthe drilling, earth, stones or the like,

f5 progresses .upwardly :through the casin where `it is discharged `outofthe top thereo These casings are apt `to vbreak where they are joinedtogether or the threads may strip and A in either event, Whenthe drillis withdrawn, "'50 part of it will .remain 4in the bottom ofthe well.The portion remaining in the well must be removed by a lfishingoperation. This is always a tedious and diicult operation and very oftenan impossible one, so that there are a great many wells almost completedwhich are entirely Vworthless due to the presence of broken tools at`the bottom thereof.

vSuggestions have been Amade for fastening the sections of casingtogethers by van auxiliary coupling of some kind on the inside thereof,vso that if the casing shell should break, the vdrill rod would stil-lhold together suiiiciently vto permit it to fbe withdrawn in a singlepiece. The mechanisms suggested for this purpose are entirely uniittedfor practi cal use with deep wells vsuch as those Vusually drilled foroil,and furthermore theyhave'tlie disadvantage of interfering with theefficient and easy operation ofthe drilling tools; They are hard :toassemble and for this reason have not met with any. success in practicaluse.

The principal object of my invention is to provide improved means forrecovering well arming amis. 45

Another object is to provide a safety device for interconnecting thecasings which will be connected at the same time that the casings areconnected and in a single operation.

Another-object is to provide such a connection adapted to swivel at eachcasing joint.

Another object is to provide such aninstrumentality adapted to swivel ateach casing joint when'turnedin one direction, but adapted to holditselfagainst turning when the casing is turned in the oppositedirection.

Another obj ect is to provide connections on the inside of the casingswhich will be interconnected with the act of coupling the casings, anddisconnected in the same way.

Another object is to provide improvement in bits particularly adaptedfor use with my improved drilling mechanism.

Another object is to provide a drilling tool with connected links ofcable extending the full length of the casings, each section of cablebeing of substantially the same length as each section of casing.

l Another object is to provide a drilling tool in the form of sectionsof casing with sections P of cable held in eachcasing, the cables beingadapted to be jointed together when the casings are coupled together.

Other objects and features of my invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings,wherein l F l is an elevational view of one form of my invention, partlyin section to show the relationship of the parts;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of part of Fig. l, themidportion of the figure being broken away to conserve space;

Fig. 3 is a pla-n sectional view along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a similar view taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a bottom view showing the arrangement of the bit;

F ig. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing a modificationof theinvention;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken line 8 8 of Fig. 6.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters areemployed to designate similar members throughout the along the severalviews, the invention is adapted to be applied to the usual form ofcasings l0 se# cured together by couplings 11 having an integral spacingring 11a. It is on the inside of the standard casings that the safetycable is secured. In the more elaborate form, the cable is protected bya sheath or tube, and this form as shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, willnow be described.

A length of standard left hand cable 12 is employed and has an upperhead 13 secured thereto, preferably by an arrangement such as that shownwherein the head is hollow to receive the cable and has an upperbevelled portion 1.4 to which the cable is drawn, an expanding pin 16being driven into the top of the cable as shown, to enlarge the topthereof and fill up the enlarged core of the head 13 in the mannershown. The top of the core is then stopped with any suitable solder orthe like and finished smooth and fiat. The cable is protected by asheath or tube 17 and at the top thereof is a anged collar 18 providedwith a leather washer 19, a metal washer 21, and a hcxagon nut 22 whichis threaded onto the outer threads on the head 13. The head is providedwith flats 13 to accommodate a wrench during this operation.

At the bottom of the cable, a swivel head 23 is secured by an expandingpin 24 and is adapted to bear against an interior shoulder on a swivelmember 26, this member being of hexagonal shape on the outside toprevent its turning and extending into an interior hexagon shaped socketin a bottom tube cap 27. The cap 27 is held onto the tube by frictionand has a centrally apertured cross piece 27a through which the cableextends, a compression spring 28 being disposed between the cross pieceand an annular groove in the enlarged end of the swivel member 26. TheSwivel member is interiorly threaded to receive a plug 29 and apackingnut 31 secured to a depending thread portion, and the bottom tube cap 27is adapted to contain a packing material 32 for preventing foreignmatter from coming in contact with the swivel. The plug 29 is of courseadapted for the same purpose.

In order to space the tube and support it in the casing, top and bottomspacing supports 33 and 34 are provided. the top spacing support beingshown in the form of a spider, while the bottom spacer is in the form ofa split ring. In both cases an, expanding nut and bolt 36 are providedto expand the support against the inside of the casing to lock theentire assembly in position. The supports have openings 33 or 34respectively, for permitting passage of material through the casing.

The safety cable assembly is prevented from moving with respect to thecasing because the top support bears up against the collar 18 and thebottom support bears against the bottom tube cap 27. As shown in -f Fig.4, this tube cap is provided with hexagonal sides and is adapted toextend in between two opposing straight edges on inner projections ofthe ring This arrangement prevents any longitudinal movement of thecable assembly and also prevents turning of the cable tube or sheath.

In assembling the apparatus, a cable of the proper length is cut; thebottom tube cap 27, swivel socket 26 and spring 28 are threaded thereonand the top head 13 and swivel head 23 are then secured onto the cable.The cable is then drawn through the tube 17 with the head 13 extendedthrough first, and the bottom tube cap 27 forced into position on theend of the tube. The supports 33 and 34 are then placed around the tube,the collar 18 placed in position followed by the washers 19 and 21, andfinally the nut 22. As the nut is turned up tight, care is taken thatthe hexagon upper outside surface of the swivel socket 2G is engaged inthe hexagon socket in the bottom tube cap. rI`he nut- 22 is tighteneduntil the cable is just taut, but not suiciently to take up all of theplay in the spring 28. The packing nut and plug are then applied aroundthe swivel joint and the cable assembly then placed in the casing.

The cable assembly is proportioned so that it has substantially the sameover-all length as the single casing section plus half a couplingincluding the spacing link 112. The assembled safety mechanism is placedin the casing section with the cable head 13 upwardly. The supports 33and 34 are then placed in position against the collar 18 and cap 27respectively, and the bolts 36 turn to expand the supports tightlyagainst the inside of the casing.

Vhen a safety cable has been placed in each one of the casing sections,these sections may be handled just as if there were no added mechanism,since the cables are joined together by the same act of joining thesections together. The spring 28 allows sufiicient end movement of thesocket 26 which of course also acts as a coupling.l that is when thethreaded end of the head 13 engages therein, that it will adjust itselfto the travel of the head, this head of course being stationary, and themember 26 tending to move in all respects with the casing, being securedto the top of the drill. The socket 26 in other words, moves in such away as to compensate for any possible differences in the threads on thecasing and coupling on th one hand, and the head 13 and interior of thesocket 2G on the other hand.

In connection with my improved drill, I have provided an improved formof bit including a head 37 having interior threads adapted to engage thelower outside threads on the casing 10 and a central exteriorly threadedprojections 38 adapted to engage on the inside of the socket 26 so as toconnect the cable with the head. A knife 39 is provided ksepa-rate fromthe head but secured thereto by cap screws 41-41 extending throughopposi-tely disposed downward pro- `jections 42 from the head. Oppositeeach ,projection is an opening 43 leading vertically through the head tothe interior of the lower-most casing. The lower part of Vthe knifeVsupporting projections is bevelled as at 42a so that there would be nopossibility 4of any obstruction such .as a stone bearing against a bluntend of such 4projection and holding the knife out of engagement with thebottom of the shaft.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 6 to '8 inclusive, is the same inprinciple as that shown in the preceding figures `but it is considerablysimplified, the parts employed however being Asubstantially the same asthose used in the preceding arrangement. The casing 10 and coupling 11are the same except that the coupling may be provided with interiorthreads 11b to receive the support 133 which is threaded-onto the head13 instead of being supported 'below the same as in the previouslydescribed embodiment. The outside of the support, which `is inthe formof a. spider, is also threaded and the whole support is turned yonto thethreads 11b as shown. The same species of expanding nut 136 isemp'loyedV however, with this arrangement. It will be noted that thisform has no protecting tube or sheath for lthe cable and the arrangementat the bottom thereof is accordingly slightly different. The support 134which is rin ring form is provided with a central opening with ashoulder 134.4. against which an annular flange on a collar 145 isadapted to bear, the collar extending around the cable 12 in the mannershown. The support 134 `is threaded vonto the inside of the casing, thekusual threads simply being extended a short distance lto accommodatethis support. It is expanded in the proper position by the expanding`nut and bolt 136.

Instead of the spring 28 bearing against a cross piece supported againstthe end of the tube, it bears against the vcollar 146, the swivel socket126 being substantially the same as in the prior arrangement with theexception that no provision is made for pack` ing. The plug 29 isemployedif desired, to protect the swivel to some extent, but even thisvmay be done away with if thought desirable; In this second form, I showa modified arrangement at the nut 22 in that instead of the leatherwasher, a single metal washer 147 is provided havingan inwardlyprojecting portion 147@ which is adapted to extend alon o' a keyway 13ain the outside of the head,` an( the vnut 22 applied -in the usual way.This nutas used in the modified form has a slot at the top thereofaround which the projection 147@ is shaped to be 'bent in the mannershown.

In assembling'the modified form, the cable with the supports 133 and134, is placed in the casing, the nut 22 however, not being drawn `uptightly. rEhe supports are expanded in the proper position by means ofthe expansion bolts 126. and then the nut 22 is threaded down tightlyuntil all of the slack is taken out of tie cable 12, care being takenhowever, that some movementremains for the spring 28, that is all of theclearance between the member 25 and the shoulder on the support 134should not be taken up. v1Nhen the nut has been turned downsufficiently, it is brought with its slot in line with the keyway 13a,and the projection 147@ is then bent over in the position shown in Fig.6.

Instead of assembling the unit in the manner described, in the precedingparagraph, the supports 133 and 134 if desired, may first be placed inposition and expanded to keep them from turning. T he remaining portieriof the cable assembly with the exception of the nut 122 and washer 147,is then placed in position, the head being inserted first through theaxial opening in the support 134, and then extended through the openingin the spider support 133. The washer and nut are then placed around thehead and drawn up tightly as in the previous arrangement.

In employing the device of my invention, either one of the formsoperates in exactly the same way. All that is necessary is to simplyplace the casings in position as they are needed and screw them down inthe usual manner. rllhe coupling and casing threads engage first andthen the threads on the cable connecting members. These members havetheir edges chamfered in the manner shown to facilitate engagement ofthe threads.

lVhile each casing section has its own cable, each one ofthese cableshas its own swivel so that if for any reason whatsoever a casing sectionshould turn and the next lower casing fail to turn, the cable turns onits swivel and thus avoiding any possibility of twisting off independentof how long the turning of the casing continued. rllhis function wouldtake place whether the casing itself were broken, or if the threadsthereon should be stripped as usually happens. when a breakdown of thiskind occurs.

In spite of the fact that the cables are connected with the connectingof the casings and also hav the swivels `which turn when occasiondemands, the cable is so arranged that it will be held absolutelystationary when the casing is turned in reverse direction, and so therewill be no di'liiculty in separating the cable sections as an incidentto the uncoupling of the casing sections. As the drawings show, thecable is twisted in a left hand direction or what is sometimes termed aright lay cable so that any tendency to turn the same in a left handdirection has the effect of shortening it. lf the cable starts to turnas a casing is being removed,

it will quickly start to shorten and finally the head i3 will bemaintained in an absolutely stationary position, due to the sliertcningof the cable, and the concomitant pulling together of the tvfo headsthereon. Bot-h of the cables effected in the iincoupling operation areacted upon in the same Way, but the swivel socket 2G of course prerented from turning due to its engaeement Within the support Si.

Considerable advantage is obtained by employing the spring in the mannershown. This not only 'to compensate for differences in the casing'threads and cable threads, l ut prevents strain beinfr applied to thecable until such a time as it will be required to withd iv tne casing i.e. when a casing break is very valuable in saving the calde connection.as a continuous strain thei i in gat h ve t of fatiguing the metal ofthe threads, and certainly would cause vceai. i a great deal sooner'than if no strain vre `)plied thereto. Consequently the exp e involvedin using a device of my invention considerably reduced.

If an indefinite life is dc ed for the cable, the form shown in F l to 5inclusive, would probably be pi rfc*A The cable in this form can begreased `roughly and when assembled no irely out of contact With Water,g ty to and the like which might deleteriousljr 1 et it. This formslightly a disadvantage however, Where the embodiment of Fig. concernedbecause it would be more expensive. This latter form has the a plicityand economy, lll'hi the calde is eX- posed it can stili bc protected toa certain extent by having a suitable ncnible coating of some kindapplied thereto. This might be t lacquer, varnish or in fact oil, wax,paint, any kind of a covering which uoulf afford it some n'ieasure ofprotection.

One of the principal adva'f Tages of my invention over similar devicesof the prior art, is that nothing left to be taken care of by carelessWorkmen. It not necessary separately to attach the cable,7 and JIVhis isof suflicient value that it practi ally makes n vention con'nnerciallyopei le. It is known that the principal object in sinking a well is tooperate the drill and the use of precautions which .vill be uable in anemergency secondary. Consequently moet Workmen Will very readily forgetn'iatters of secondary importance nurry to discharge duties of fi tiniponee`r or :t least What seems so to thc-m. In the arrangement of myinvention the ivorlnnan need not consider or even think about the cablebut simthe inside thereof,

It will be noted that bottom of the cable and the solid head at the top.This prevents the filling of the o ening in the socket with earth orstones W ich would have the effect of preventing the coupling togetherof the tivo cable connections.

If it is desired to leave the casing temporarily in the ground to pump oil therethrough, i s is sometimes done When the yield is slight, thismay be done with my invention thc same as without it, for the oil canpass through the openings 33 and 34.

Vlie-reas I have described some of the features of my invention indetail to make it clear to those skilled in the art. It is obvious thatI do not restrict myself to this particular frm and the invention islimited only by the scope of the appended claims.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by United States LettersPatent izl. In a ivell drilling tool including a plurality of couplingeasings, a safety element in each casing including a flexible cable witha threaded socket at one end thereof and a threaded head at the other,means for causing said casings and respective elements to rotatetogether so that separate safety elements in the respective casings areinterconnected and disconnected as an incident to the interconnectingand disconnecting of the casings and a swivel joint disposed between thehead and socketin each safety element to prevent twisting the cable inthe event of accidental breaking of a casing or stripping of the threadstherebetween,

2. In a well drilling tool including a plurality of coupled casings, asafety clement in each casing and means permitting the interconnectingand disconnecting of the safety elements as an incident to theinterconnecting and disconnecting of the casings, said safety elementhaving an interiorly threaded socket on one end and an exteriorlythreaded head on the other end, the socket of one element adapted to bethrcadedly connected to the head of the adjoining element when the twocasings are coupled together`r means being provided for con'ipensating,for differences in the threads on the casing and safety elcment so thatboth may be screwed up tightly together and Without strain.

In a well drilling tool including a plurality of coupled casings, asafety element in each casing, threaded coupling means on the ends ofthe safety element means for causing sai d casings and respectiveelements to rotate together so that safety elements are interconnectedand disconnected as incident to the interconnecting and disconnecting ofthe caslgsA and means for avoiding the placing of ani;v strain on thesafety elements during normal operation of the drill.

at. In a Well drilling tool including a tubular casing, a safety cablein the inside of the casing, a sivivel joint in the cable adapted to beturned when the cable is turned in a right hand direction and meanspreventing turning at the swivel joint in a reverse direction wherebysaid swivel will turn if a casing should break during a drilling, butwill be held stationary when one casing section is removed from another.

5. A safety cable mechanism for use in standard oil drill casings, saidmechanism including cables with mutually coacting couplings at the endsthereof, and spacing supports adapted for mounting said coupled cableswithin said standard casing, said spacing supports including a splitring adapted to engage against the inside wall of the casing and readilyoperable means for expanding said ring to interengage the same with saidcasing wall.

6. A safety cable mechanism for use in standard oil drill casings, saidmechanism including cables with mutually coacting couplings at the endsthereof, and spacing supports adapted for mounting said coupled cableswithin said standard casing, said spacing supports including a splitring adapted to engage against the inside wall of the standard casing,with apertures within the circumference of the ring to permit passage ofmatter through the standard casing as required in drilling, and readilyoperable means including a threaded bolt for expanding said ring tointerengage the same with said standard casing wall.

7. A safety device adapted to be secured to the inside of a standarddrill casing, said device comprising a section of cable, a swivel headon one end of the cable, a swivel socket for the swivel head, couplingmeans for the cable at each end thereof, and means for preventing theswivel head from turning with respect to its socket when the cable isturned in a left hand direction.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said last mentioned means includes theuse of a left hand cable adapted to shorten when turned in a left handdirection.

9. A safety device adapted to be secured to the inside of a standarddrill casing, said device comprising a section of cable, a swivel headon one end of the cable, a swivel socket for the head, a collar aboutthe cable, a spring between the collar and socket, and a threaded headat the other end of the cable, the swivel socket being interiorlythreaded to receive the head of an adjoining cable device to secure themtogether.

10. The device of claim 9 with a pair of spacing supports expandable onthev inside of the casing and having axial openings for the cable, saidcollar engaging against one of said supports, and a nut provided on thethreaded head engaging against the other support to maintain the cabletaut.

11. The device of claim 9 with a pair of spacing supports expandable onthe inside of the casing and having axial openings for the 9of a bithaving a head portion for screwing onto the outside of a casing, and athreaded central projection for engaging into one of said sockets,the'head having two dependingl projections, with a removable knifesecured to the projections, and vertical apertures opposite eachprojection and adjacent the knife, the spacing supports for the safetydevice also being apertured so that an opening exists throughout 'thecasing and bit into the bottom of the shaft.

13. The device of claim 9 with means for protecting the swivel and cableto prevent foreign matter coming in contact therewith.

14. A safety device adapted to be secured to the inside of a standarddrill casing, said device comprising a tube, a cable on the inside ofthe tube, a tube cap with a cross piece and a central aperture throughthe cross piece through which the cable extends, a swivel head on theend of the cable, extending into the tube cap, a threaded head on theopposite end of the cable, and a nut on the threaded head and drawn downtightly against the end of the tube to maintain the cable taut withinthe tube.

15. The device of claim 14 with a spring disposed between the crosspiece on said tube cap and the end of the swivel socket to permit endplay of said socket, said socket being interiorly threaded to beconnected to the threaded head of an adjoining device, the two adjacentdevices being automatically connected as the casings are coupledtogether, and the end play of the swivel socket functioning tocompensate for minor variations in the threads.

16. The device of claim 14 wherein said tube cap is exteriorly threadedto receive a packing nut, and a plug is provided for the interior ofsaid swivel socket to prevent the admission of foreign matter into saidswivel joint.

17. A safety device adapted to be secured to the inside of a standarddrill casing, said device comprising a tube, a cable on the inside ofthe tube, a tube cap with a cross piece and a central aperture throughthe cross piece through which the cable extends, a swivel head on theend of the cable, extending into the tube cap, a threaded head on theopposite end of the cable, a flanged collar extending over the tubeadjacent the threaded head, a washer for excluding foreign matterdisposed against the flange of said collar, and a nut on said head anddrawn against the washer for maintaining the cable taut Within the tube.

18. The combination with the device of claim 17 of spacing supports withcentral apertures for receiving the tube, and means for expanding saidsupports to grip the inside of the casing, said supports engagingagainst said collar and said tube cap respectively, to prevent the endplay of the tube and cable assembly.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 30th day ofNovember, 1927.

ALBANO SCHMALZ.

